Miniature phonograph



June 1936. J. H. WILHELM 2,043,687

MINIATURE PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. 15, 19:55 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEYS `Fume 9, 1936. J. H. WILHELMA MINIATURE PHONOGRAPH Filed Aug. l5, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l @9 wv ATTORNEYS Patented June 9, 1936 NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE N. Y., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to

Voices, Incorporated, Newark, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application August 15,

Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs, and more particularly to miniature phonographs adapted for use in dolls or other toys.

The primary object of the present invention is to generally improve miniature or toy phonographs, particularly phonographs intended to be embodied in dolls. More particularized objects of the invention are to provide a phonograph which will reproduce a relatively long record with ample loudness and clarity, While at the same time confining the phonograph to compact dimensions m'aking the same usable in dolls of small or moderate size. An ancillary object of the invention is the provision of a relatively long horn of continuous expansion in cross-section, which improves the sound quality of the phonograph and yet which is so disposed in the phonograph that it does not appreciably increase its bulk or size.

Further objects of my invention are to make necessary only a single opening in the phonograph, and consequently in the doll, for sound discharge from the phonograph and for affording ready change of the record being played; to use a record supporting and rotating drum as a part of the horn or sound amplifying system; to localize all of the necessary controls of the phonograph at one side thereof, specifically at the sound discharge side of the phonograph; to include among such controls not only means for winding the phonograph but also means for disengaging the stylus from the record, means for restoring the stylus to initial position, and means for braking the governor and thereby stopping the phonograph; and to combine all of these controls except the winding key of the phonograph into a single control element for automatically and in proper sequence disengaging the stylus, moving the same to initial position, and braking the governor. An additional object of the invention resides in the provision of a sound box so mounted as to be oscillatable about its center for movement of the stylus on the record and about an axis extending thereacross for movement of the stylus toward and from the record, the sound box being for this purpose oscillatably mounted on a sound box supporting horn extending across the sound box and itself oscillatably mounted in the phonograph fram'e.

`Other objects are to so design the phonograph that that it may be made inexpensively, as, for example, by the use of simple spur gearing between the main spring and the record carrying drum.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and 1933, Serial No. 685,217

such other objects as will hereinafter appear, my invention consists in the miniature phonograph elements and their relation one to the other as hereinafter are more particularly described in the specification and sought to be dened in the claims. The specification is accompanied by drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a section in elevation through a phonograph embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken in the plane of the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the phonograph with the gear cover removed; and

Fig. 4 is a section taken in the plane of the line 4 4; in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the phonograph comprises a hollow open-ended record supporting drum D carrying a cylindrical record R, the drum D being driven through gear train T by a main spring S. The sound impression of the record is translated by a sound box B carrying a stylus or needle N. Sound box B is oscillatably mounted on a sound box supporting horn H, thus affording movement of needle N along the record, and the horn H is itself oscillatably mounted in the frame of the phonograph, thereby affording movement of the needle N toward and away from the record R. The sound box supporting horn H is only a rst horn section, it communicating at its large end with the small end of a second horn section, this taking the form of a channel C extending along the back of the phonograph frame to the rear end of the drum D. The latter serves as a third or final horn section, and sound flowing therethrough is discharged from the phonograph at a single main opening O which thus acts not only as a sound discharge opening but also to permit ready removal and replacement of the record R on drum D.

The control of the phonograph is localized on the same side of the phonograph as the sound discharge opening O and is embodied in a winding key K1 and a single control means M, the latter being arranged to disengage the needle N from the record by oscillating the sound box supporting horn H, to move the needle back to its starting position by oscillating the sound box B, and to stop the phonograph by braking the phonograph governor G. The bending of the sound amplifying horn in the manner shown, and particularly the utilization of the drum D as the large end of the horn, results in an exceedingly compact phonograph structure, the phonograph being little if at all larger than it would be without the provision of the horn. The phonograph may be inserted in the body of a doll with the front wall of the phonograph at the back of the doll, thereby providing for sound discharge from the doll, for record changing as well as for winding and controlling the operation of the phonograph all within a confined area at the back of the doll.

Considering the phonograph structure in greater detail, the frame comprises a front plate I2 and a back plate I4 connected by spacers I6. For the sake of lightness these spacers are preferably made of sheet metal bent into channel form, and are secured to the front and back plates I2 and I 4 by tongue and slot construction.

The record drum D is driven by main spring S through the gear train T. The spring isV preferably a Wide ribbon spring housed within an appropriate spring housing 20, the inner end of the spring being secured to a winding stemY 22, as is best shown in Fig. 2, and the outer end of the spring being secured to the housing 20. For this purpose the spring may be perforatedand anchored on one or more lugsor hooks 24-struck inwardly fromthe periphery of the spring housing.

The springhousing 20 is formed integrally -with a housing shaft 26 the inner part 28'- of which is preferably enlarged and counter-bored to rotatably receive the inner end 30 ofwinding stem 22. The outer end of the windingstem is squared and has tted thereon" the winding key K. The windingl stem is provided with a ratchet to prevent unwinding of the spring at the key, and for this purposeI prefer to'use a-simple coiled spring 32 wound about the winding stem and having one end 34 anchored. in front plate I2 of the frame. The housing shaft 26 carries at its outer or rear extremity a gear 36 which'meshes with a pinion 38 fixed to an intermediate gear 40 and which in turn meshes with a pinion 42 mounted on the drum shaft 44.

'Ihe drum D is hollow and open-ended, the front end of the drum being entirely open, and the rear end of the drum consisting solely of spider arms connecting the'drum to a hub 48 which is fixed on the drum'shaft'44. The outer diameter of the drum is dimensioned to receive the cylindrical record R with a smooth snug nt. To insure rotation of the record without a tight force t therebetween, the outer wall of the drum is preferably provided with a plurality, say four, spaced thin rails or ribs 50'which may taper slightly toward the front end of the drum. Y

The record R is cylindrical in shape and may,

if desired, be tted with a transverse rod 5I atv its outer end, this rod facilitating removal of the record fromV the drum through the opening O, and also serving to prevent the record from being placed on the drum with the Ywrong end foremost.

The sound box B. is generally circular in outline and comprises a dished sheet metal casing 52 carrying an appropriate diaphragm 54. The edges of the diaphragm are preferably supported between resilient annular spacers 56. The sound box enclosure is completed by a top plate 5B, the edges of casing 52 being rolled or folded over the edges of top plate 58. The stylus or needle N preferably consists of a small sapphire 60 mounted at one end of a pivoted stylus arm 62, the opposite end of the stylus arm passing through a slot 64 in the sound box casing 52v and being attached to the center of the diaphragm. To pivot the arm 62 on the sound box in a frictionless manner; the arm` is `secured to a cross plate 66 which itself carries fulcrum points 68'resting in matingindentations onthe side wall-of soundboxicasing 52. The fulcrum points 68 and the arm 62 are held in place by a spring I0 the inner end of which is clamped within the periphery of the sound box, and the outer end of which is bifurcated to straddle the arm 62 and bears against the cross plate 66, this being most clearly shown in Fig. l. It will thus be evident that vibrations imparted to the stylus by hill and dale sound grooves are transmitted to the diaphragm 54 and are there translated into sound waves. It should be understood that while I have disclosed a stylus and lever arrangement adapted for hill and dale recording, the sound box may, if desired, be readily modified to adapt the same for lateral sound recording.

The top plate 53v of the sound box is provided with an annular flange 'I2 defining a sound discharge opening within which there is centrally disposed a small hub I4 supported by spokes or arms 16; These parts mate with corresponding parts on the sound box supporting horn H. The latter is generally rectangular in cross-section, asis best shown in Fig. 2, and includes a small end closed by a wall 18, and an outwardly flared largeend which bears slidably against the inner wall of frame plate I4 and discharges through an opening 82 in said frame plate. The support member H is continued in the form of an open channel to an opposite end 84 adjacent the front frame plate I2. It will thus be seen that the member H extends across the sound box between frame plates I2 and I4. Itis oscillatably mounted in the frame, this mounting being exemplified in the present case by pins 86. The bottom Wall of the member H is provided with a ange or seat Swhich receives the flange 12 of the sound box and forms therewith a sound flow channel from the sound box into the horn. The member H is further provided with a hub S supported by spokes or arms 92. A bearing pin 94 is secured at its inner end to the sound box and passes through hub 90 and through the outer wall of member H to an appropriate means 96 for oscillating the sound box. It may be pointed out that the t between the flanges I2 and 88 is preferably made quite loose and free so that the oscillation of the sound box'will be substantially frictionless. The load and oscillation of the sound box is preferably taken by a slender bearing such as the pinv 94, as this oiers little resistance to oscillation and consequently no interference with movement of the stylus along the recordY as the stylus tracks in the sound groove.

The assembly is urged clockwise, as viewed'in Fig; 2, by a spring 98 tensioned between the upper portion of the horn and the frame, thereby urging the stylus into engagement with the sound record regardless ofthe position of the phonograph. The resulting movement is limited to permit the stylus to move inwardly further than the periphery of the record and yet to avoid contact of the stylus with'the drum when no record is placed on the drum. In the present case the stop means consists simply of the upper wall I 00 of the spacer or channel member I6 shown adjacent the horn H in Fig. 2.

The complete horn of the phonograph is generally U-shaped, andthe second or middle section of the horn extends along the back plate I4 of the phonograph. For this purpose thevback plate is depressed or channeled, as is shown at I02 in Fig; 1, andan additional dished or channel-shaped member |04 is added to the frame plate I4. This member |04 remains constant in depth but expands in width, as is best shown in Fig. 3, thus providing for-continuing, expansionV of the horn from the entrant end |02 opposite the sound box supporting horn H to the discharge end |08 which is opposite `the rear end of the drum D. The frame plate I4 is, of course, open or cut away to form a large hole in alignment with the drum D, and some of the material is preferably bent inwardly to form the flange I I0, best shown in Fig. 1, which leads directly to the drum. A single bar or strap of sheet metal I I2 may be left intact on the frame plate and acts as a support for the drum shaft 44.

The drum D is itself of varying thickness, it

being substantially thicker at the rear or soundentrant end H4 than at the front or sound discharge end I i6. Furthermore, the record R, projecting forwardly from the drum, is of larger internal diameter than the drum. The front frame plate I 2 is cut away to form the sound discharge opening O, and the material of the plate is preferably bent inwardly to form a flange ||8 which is of still larger diameter. This affords continued expansion.

The speed of the phonograph is controlled by governor mechanism G. To drive the governor, the drum D is provided at its rear periphery with a worm gear |23 which meshes with a worm IZE on the governor shaft |24. The governor shaft is borne between conical bearings |26 mountedv on lugs |28 'bent upwardly from` the rear frame member. The governor may be of conventional type, and in the present case comprises leaf springs |30 carrying weights |3| and secured at the end |32 to the governor shaft and at the other end |34 to a sleeve |36 slidable on the governor shaft and carrying a brake disc |38. Brake disc |33 cooperates with a xed brake shoe |40 the position of which may, if desired, be adjustable, but which in any oase determines the normal operating speed of the phonograph.

The phonograph is stopped and started by the single control means M. This consists of a shaft |42 extending between the frame plates adjacent the horn I-I. The outer end of the shaft is bent to form the handle M, and the rotation of the handle may, if desired, be limited by an appropriate stop |44. The shaft |42 carries a cam |46 which, in effect, acts as two cams. The outer periphery |48 of the cam is adapted to bear against and is so related to the top wall of the horn I-I that upon oscillation of the shaft, the cam tilts the horn about the bearing pins 86 in opposition to spring 98, and thus elevates the stylus from the record. Continued movement of the cam brings the leading edge |50 thereof into engagement with the upstanding finger |52 of the cam follower 96 and thus causes oscillation of the cam follower 96 and with it oscillation of the sound box. This movement is limited and the parts are locked in final position by a mating c0- operation between the inner side or face Wall of cam |45 and the straight edge |54 of the cam follower 9S, and this nal or limiting position determines the initial or starting position of the stylus N. The latter is in turn coincident with the rst few sound grooves of the record, which are preferably left blank.

The control shaft |42 further carries at its rear end small cam |68 which cooperates with a lever |62 pivoted at |64, as is best shown in Fig. 2, and carrying at its opposite end the governor brake shoe |40. The lever is held against the cam by a spring |66. Cam |60 is so designed that under normal playing conditions the brake shoe |40 is moved away from the governor to its normal governing position, whereas when the control shaft |42 is oscillated to elevate and restore the stylus to initial position the brake shoe is advanced against the governor and stops the phonograph.

It will thus be apparent that upon manipulation of the control M against the stop |44, three important operations are performed in proper sequential relation. The stylus is rst elevated from the record and is only thereafter moved back toward its starting position. This prevents scratching of the record. The brake is applied after removal of the stylus, which in turn prevents a change in pitch or drooping of sound such as would result if the phonograph began to stop before the stylus were disengaged.

The phonograph mechanism need not be but preferably is completely enclosed, and for this purpose the body of the frame may be closed by a thin sheet metal skirt or wall |10 the rear end of which is flanged at |12 to t around the back frame plate I4, and the front end of which may be secured to the front plate |2 by a tongue and slot relation |14. Similarly, the gear train T is preferably enclosed, and for this purpose a shallow dished sheet metal member |16 is placed over the gearing as a guard, it being secured to the phonograph frame by a tongue and slot construction, or by screws as shown.

The front plate I2 is preferably made substantially larger than the rear plate |4, thereby providing an outwardly projecting flange |80 extending entirely around the phonograph, this flange being useful to limit the insertion of the phonograph in the doll body when mounting the same in place. The flange is perforated in any desired manner, dependent upon the particular kind of doll body to which it is to be applied. The phonograph may, for example, be screwed to a metal doll body, or riveted to a rubber doll body, or sewed to a stuffed cloth doll body, and so on.

The operation of the phonograph should be apparent from the foregoing detailed description, but may be briefly reviewed as follows. With the control M moved to the stopped position, the winding key K may be turned to wind the phonograph. discharge opening O onto the drum D; The phonograph is then ready to be played, and at any desired time the control M may be turned, thereby releasing the governor brake and permitting the stylus to be moved into engagement with the record by the spring 98. The stylus is carried along the record by the sound groove itself and is moved freely because the sound box is freely pivoted on the horn H. The vibrations imparted to the stylus are translated into sound by whereupon the stylus is disengaged and moved back to initial position, and the phonograph is stopped.

My miniature phonograph is characterized by numerous advantages among which I may list its compactness, for, as is evident from an inspection of Fig. 2, for example, the phonograph is no larger than is needed for the record drum, the sound box, and the main drive spring, that is, the amplier and usually bulky horn of the phonograph is so disposed that the phonograph structure is not appreciably increased in bulk. At the same time the horn is long and is characterized by continuous expansion, so that good amplification and clear reproduction are obtained. Only a single opening need be `provided in the doll, this taking A record is slipped through the sound f care of both vsound discharge and record change. Furthermore, the winding and starting control of the phonograph are localized at the same part of the doll. A single control fullls all necessary,

functions for placing of the stylus as well as starting of the phonograph. The parts of the phonograph are simple and may be made with comparative cheapness, they being largely sheet metal. The main gear train consists simply of spur gearing. While worm gearing is employed for the governor, this gear takes no substantial load and may be of inexpensive construction. The phonograph may be placed in relatively small dolls and is useful in a l2inch doll, for example. This is largely so because the phonograph may be arranged in an upright position, that is, longitudinally of the body of the doll.

It will be apparent that while I have shown and described my invention in preferred form, many changes and modications may be made in the structure disclosed without departing from the spirit of the invention defined in the following claims.

I claim:

l. A miniature phonograph comprising front and back plates, a hollow open-ended record rotating drum disposed between said plates near one end thereof, a main spring disposed between said plates near the other end thereof, gearing interconnecting the main spring and record drum, a sound box disposed between said plates at one side of the main spring, and a relatively long horn so disposed as not to appreciably increase the bulk of the phonograph, said horn including a iirst horn chamber extending rearwardly from the sound box to the rear plate oi the phonograph, a second horn chamber extending along the rear plate of the phonograph to the drum at the cpposite end thereof, and a third horn chamber formed by the drum, and a single large opening in the front plate at the drum for sound discharge and for changing the record on the drum.

2. A miniature phonograph comprising front and back walls, a hollow open-ended record rotating drum disposed between said walls near one end thereof, a main spring disposed between said walls near the other end thereof, a Step-up spur gear train interconnecting the main spring and record drum, a sound box disposed between said plates at one side of the main spring, and a relatively long horn so disposed as not to appreciably increase the bulk of the phonograph, said horn including a first horn chamber ext-ending rearwardly from the sound box, a second horn chamber extending along the rear of the phonograph to the drum at the opposite end thereof, and a third horn chamber formed by the drum, a winding key at the front wall, and a single large opening in the front wall for sound discharge and for changing the record on the drum.

3. A miniature phonograph comprising iront and back plates connected 4by spacers, a hollow open-ended record rotating drum disposed between said plates near one end thereof, a main spring disposed between said-plates near the other end thereof, a step-up spur gear train interconnecting the main spring and record drum, a sound box between said plat-es at one side of the main spring, governor mechanism at the opposite side of the main spring, and a relatively long horn so dispos-ed as not to appreciably increase the bulk of the phonograph, said horn including a first horn chamber extending rearwardly from the sound box to the rear plate of the phonograph, a

second horn chamber extending along the rear pla-te ofthe phonograph to the drum at the opposite end thereof, and a third horn chamber provided by the hollow record drum, a winding key at the front plate, a control arm also located on the front plate for controlling the operation of the phonograph mechanism, and a. single large opening in the front plate for sound discharge and for changing the record on the drum.

4. In a miniature phonograph, a frame having spaced stationary supports, a sound box between said supports, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box from one to the otherV of said spaced supports, said sound box being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on said spaced supports.

5. In a miniature phonograph, a frame including front and back plates, a sound box between said plates, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box between said plates, said sound box being oscillatable about its center on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on said frame, said sound box and sound box supporting horn having mating annular flanges for sound now therebetween.

6. In a miniature phonograph, a frame, a sound box, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box in said frame, said sound boxV being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on said frame, said sound box and sound box supporting horn having hub supporting spiders with a pivot pin extending therethrough and acting as a bearing .for oscillation of the sound box on the sound box supporting horn.

7. In a miniature phonograph, a frame including front and back plates, a generally circular sound box between said plates, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box between said plates, said sound box being oscillatable about its center on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, said sound box and sound box supporting horn having mating annular iianges for sound flow therebetween and further having hub supporting spiders with a pivot pin extending therethrough and acting as a bearing for oscillation of the sound box on the sound box supporting horn, one end of said sound box supporting horn leading to a second horn chamber.

8. In a miniature phonograph, a frame, a sound box, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box, said sound box being oscillatable'on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on said frame, said sound box and sound box supporting horn having mating means actingas a bearing for oscillation of the sound box on the sound box supporting horn, said means extending through the sound box supporting horn and being provided with means for oscillating the sound box, one end of said sound box supporting horn leading into a second horn chamber.

9. In a miniature phonograph, a frame, a record rotating support, a sound box, a stylus thereon, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box, said sound box being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, and a control device to oscillate the sound box supporting horn in order to bring the stylus into or out of engagement with a sound record, and means to oscillate the sound box on the sound box supporting horn in order to move the stylus from its terminal to its starting position.

10. In a miniature phonograph, a frame, a record rotating support, a stylus thereon, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box, said sound box being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, a bearing pin on the sound box extendingr through the sound box supporting horn and provided with means for oscillating the sound box, a control device having means to oscillate the sound box supporting horn in order to bring the stylus into or out of engagement with a sound record, and means to oscillate the sound box on the sound box supporting horn in order to move the stylus from its terminal to its starting position.

l1. In a miniature phonograph, a frame, a record rotating support therein, a motor for driving said support, a governor for controlling the speed of the motor, a sound box, a stylus thereon, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box, said sound box being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, and a single control device having means to oscillate the sound box supporting horn in order to bring the stylus into or out of engagement with a sound record, and means to oscillate the sound box on the sound box supporting horn in order to move the stylus from its terminal to its starting position, and means for braking the governor in order to stop the motor.

12. In a miniature phonograph, a frame including front and back plates, a record rotating support, a governor, a generally circular sound box between said plates, a stylus thereon, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box between said plates, said sound box being oscillatable about its center on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, said sound box and sound box supporting horn having mating annular flanges for sound ilow therebetween and further having hub supporting spiders with a pivot pin extending therethrough and acting as a bearing for oscillation of the sound box on the sound box supporting horn, the aforesaid bearing pin on the sound box extending through the sound box supporting horn and being provided with cam follower means for oscillating the sound box, a single control device adjacent the sound box supporting horn having camming means thereon adapted to oscillate the sound box supporting horn in order to bring the stylus into or out of engagement with a record, and camming means to oscillate the sound box on the sound box supporting horn in order to move the stylus from its terminal to its starting position, and camming means for braking the governor.

13. In a miniature phonograph, a frame including front and back plates, a hollow open-ended record rotating drum therebetween, driving means therefor, a sound box between said plates, a stylus thereon, a sound box supporting horn extending across said sound box between said plates, said sound box being oscillatable on the sound box supporting horn, and said sound box supporting horn being oscillatably mounted on the frame, one end of said sound box supporting horn leading to a second horn chamber extending along the back plate to the drum, the drum acting as another horn chamber, a control having means to oscillate the sound box supporting horn in order to bring the stylus into or out of engagement with a sound record, and means to oscillate the sound box on the sound box supporting horn in order to move the stylus from its terminal to its starting position.

14. A miniature phonograph comprising a hollow openended rotatable record supporting drum, a reproducer and stylus mechanism for cooperation with a record on said drum, and sound chamber means extending from the reproducer to one end of the drum, the drum at said end being provided with a Small diameter hub and spokes connecting the same to the shell of the drum, a driving shaft extending from the hub away from the drum and through the sound chamber means and serving to support the drum, the other end of the drum being unsupported and free to axially receive a cylindrical record, said drum acting as a sound amplifying chamber or horn for the phonograph.

15. A miniature phonograph comprising a generally closed casing, a hollow open-ended record rotating drum, a spoked hub at the rear end of the drum, a shaft connected to said hub to support and to drive the drum, the front end of the drum being unsupported and free to axially receive a cylindrical record, a sound box, and a horn so disposed as not to appreciably increase the bulk of the phonograph, said horn including a irst horn chamber extending rearwardly from the sound box, a second horn chamber extending along the rear of the phonograph and opening into the rear end of the drum, and a third horn chamber formed by the drum, a single large opening in the phonograph casing at the forward end of the drum for sound discharge and for changing the record on the drum, the' aforesaid shaft passing through and being supported by the second sound chamber.

JOI-IN H. WILHELM. 

